Constable killed in Rouse Hill crash was planning wedding, family
A young police officer who was killed in a motorcycle crash while travelling home from work was planning his wedding when his life was tragically cut short.
NSW
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A young police officer who was killed in a motorcycle crash while travelling home from work was planning his wedding when his life was tragically cut short.
NSW Police Constable Aaron Vidal, 28, was on his way home from the Sydney City Command — where he had worked for three years alongside his father — when his motorcycle collided with a ute at Rouse Hill in Sydney’s northwest on Thursday.
Police allege the 37-year-old driver of the ute, Tommy Balla, ran a red light and collided with Constable Vidal’s motorcycle at the intersection of Windsor and Schofields roads about 4.45pm.
The young officer from Bligh Park, who was engaged and planning a family, died at the scene.
Balla, a rapper from The Ponds who says the light was orange when he went through it, appeared in Parramatta Local Court via video link yesterday charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, and negligent driving occasioning death.
Magistrate Robyn Dees granted Balla’s bail application, despite opposition from police prosecutor Sergeant Ferguson due to his history of speeding offences.
Balla was not required to enter a plea and is scheduled to appear in Blacktown Local Court on August 14.
The loss of one of their own has shocked the NSW police community, with colleagues paying tribute to the dedicated young officer who was known for his infectious smile.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said his thoughts were with Constable Vidal’s family and fiancee, as well as his current and former colleagues.
“Aaron was one of six siblings and worked alongside his father, Chief Inspector David Vidal, at Sydney City,” Commissioner Mick Fuller said.
“Dave has always been incredibly proud of his son following in his footsteps and walking the beat side-by-side with him.”
Constable Vidal had dedicated his life to protecting others. He served as a Private in the Australian Army as a full-time infantry soldier and reservist for almost 11 years.
A Defence spokesman said his loss would be deeply felt.
In 2017, Constable Vidal went on to follow in his father’s footsteps.
He was confirmed as a constable in December 2018 and attached to the “proactive crime team” at Sydney City.
“On two occasions, he had been formally recognised for good police work by members of the community, which shows that he was held in high regard by not only his peers, but the community he served,” Commissioner Fuller said.
Deputy Commissioner Jeff Loy said Constable Vidal worked alongside his father David, a duty officer, at the Day St police station in Sydney’s CBD. “He was a man of service – he was a member of the armed forces before he joined the police force and really, a 28-year-old young man on the journey of life,” Mr Loy said. “There’s a lot of people around (Constable Vidal’s fiancee) today, also his father, and he has five other siblings – so it’s a big family.”
Deputy Commissioner Loy said the state’s police family were “hurting everywhere” from the tragedy.
“Police deal with tragedy and trauma but when we lose a young officer in really such a wasteful way in some respects … it really hits us in the heart.
Aaron was a good young officer only three years in the job and already a very high achiever.
“He was planning his life, he was engaged to be married and planning a family so for him to be cut short is really a tragedy.”
